Updated Jul 2, 2014

Overview

Located about a 10-minute drive from Old Quebec and a 2-minute drive from the nearest Trans-Canada Highway on-ramp, the Hotel Sepia is geared towards business who require a hotel with meeting/conference space, easy highway access and an on-site restaurant and leisure travellers wanting to visit Old Quebec, without staying right downtown.

This hotel has 80 air-conditioned guest rooms and suites, all of which offer one king or two queen beds, free Wi-Fi, and LCD flat panel TV with cable channels, an iPod docking station, an iPad, an iHome clock radio with MP3, a Nespresso coffeemaker, a mini-fridge, a desk, a hair dryer and an iron and ironing board. Rooms with a jetted tub and bathrobe for each guest are also available. All rooms are professionally designed with comfortable, pillow top beds, fine bed linens with goose down duvets and high-style modern furniture.

Hotel amenities include a seasonal outdoor pool, fitness facilities, a business centre, meeting and conference space, a bar, free parking and a free summer shuttle to Old Quebec (check with hotel for details). On-site dining can be found at Le Galopin, which offers breakfast and dinner daily as well as lunch on weekdays. Pets are not permitted, and the hotel does not offer wheelchair-accessible rooms.

The Sainte-Foy Via Rail station is roughly an 8-minute walk southwestward, while Laval University is an 8-minute drive northeast of the hotel. Quebec Aquarium can be found 7 minutes away on foot, and Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) is about a 13-minute drive away. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)

The majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, with guests offering praise for the hotel's staff, value and location.

The hotel's staff were the source of many compliments by reviewers, and were characterized as friendly, welcoming and helpful. One guest remarked that the front desk staff were polite, bilingual and knowledgeable about area restaurants.

Numerous guests were pleased with the hotel's value, describing the rates as affordable and reasonable, and citing the seasonal free shuttle to Old Quebec and free parking as factors contributing to its worth. One guest pointed out that taking the shuttle means saving on downtown parking and transportation fees. A few guests were disappointed with the additional charges for the in-room coffee, however (see below).

Several lodgers enjoyed the hotel's location. They found it to be close to restaurants, the Quebec Aquarium, the bus stop, shopping and Jean Lesage Airport.

The hotel's rooms were also praised by several guests, who described them as clean and modern, with comfortable beds and quality linens. It should be noted however, that there were some complaints about the rooms' layouts (see below).

While the majority of reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about the size of their rooms, the additional in-room coffee charge and noise transfer.

While the majority of reviewers described their rooms as clean and modern, some reviewers found their rooms to be too small with no storage area for luggage, and they also reported there was nowhere to put toiletries in the bathroom.

Some guests were upset they were charged for the in-room coffee machine capsules, and felt these should have been included in the room price.

Noise transfer was mentioned by a few guests. They reported being able to hear guests in adjacent and overhead rooms as well as guests in the hallways. People also reported hearing traffic noise from the road outside.